Cyan wind blades carried an irresistible sharpness, while pale-gold Geo blades condensed with the weight to split mountains and shatter stones.
Lydia and Lumine were perfectly in sync, each offensive and defensive move as precise as if executed by a single person.
Lydia borrowed the wind's momentum to soar into the air, the dark purple runes on the Festering Desire sword suddenly erupting in size. The dark purple sword aura, like a long-coiled viper, coiled tightly around the Demon Dragon's unfurled giant wing.
With a "Ssh-rip," it tore open a wound deep enough to expose the bone. Black blood mixed with Abyssal Venom dripped down, corroding the ground into black spots.
Lumine, seizing the moment the Demon Dragon paused in pain, condensed all her Geo element into the Prototype Rancour.
Her leaping figure drew a dazzling arc through the black mist, the sword's edge whistling as it broke the air, then struck the Demon Dragon's head with the force of Mount Tai!
"Roar—!"
The Demon Dragon let out a deafening, miserable wail. The dark purple flames in its hollow eye sockets flickered violently, as if they might be extinguished at any moment.
Pitch-black scales fell away like autumn leaves, and the Abyssal aura within its body burst forth like a broken dam, turning into wisps of black smoke in the air.
The two did not pause for a moment. Lydia manipulated the Anemo element to form a spinning vortex, firmly trapping the Demon Dragon in place and restricting its movements.
Lumine then unleashed several concentrated Geo blades in rapid succession, each one aimed directly at the Demon Dragon's eye sockets, neck, and other vital points, her offensive utterly fierce.
Boom!
A thunderous roar shook heaven and earth as the Demon Dragon's massive body exploded under the double assault, turning into a sky full of black energy that dissipated into the thick black mist without leaving a single trace.
After defeating this Cursed Dragon, Lydia and Lumine both breathed a sigh of relief. Beads of sweat rolled down their foreheads, and their backs were already soaked with cold sweat.
Lumine turned to look at Yunqin, who stood there radiating a dense dark energy, her eyes filled with a complex mixture of pain and sorrow.
The girl who used to love laughing and joking, who would fight with all her might to protect the people of Liyue, had now fallen into the Abyss's control as a puppet.
Just as the two were about to step forward and try to awaken her remaining reason, a figure suddenly shot out from the black mist, moving so fast it left only a blurred afterimage!
"Careful!" Lydia's pupils constricted as she cried out, instinctively trying to rush forward and block, but it was already too late.
The figure slammed hard into Lumine's chest. Lumine let out a muffled groan as a sharp pain shot through her chest, and she was forced back several steps.
Before she could steady her stance, a Stone Spear glowing with a deep brown light suddenly broke through the air, its tip carrying a chilling killing intent and aimed straight for the space between Lydia's eyebrows!
Lydia's eyes were quick and her hands were swift as she instinctively swung the Festering Desire to block.
With a crisp clang, the Stone Spear was forcefully deflected!
The massive impact left her arm numb and her blood surging, forcing her to retreat several steps and fall back into line with Lumine.
Lumine clutched her chest, enduring the sharp pain as she looked down.
The person she had caught steadily in her arms, her tattered hood slipping off to reveal a pale, haggard, and bloodless face, was none other than Yunxuan!
Her body was covered in wounds of varying depths, her torn clothes soaked in blood, and her breath was so weak it seemed as if it could stop at any moment, barely even having the strength to open her eyes.
Yet even so, she stubbornly clung to her last shred of consciousness, struggling to roll her eyes to stare fixedly ahead, her lips moving slightly as she weakly murmured, "Fake... he's fake... Rex Lapis... would never... hurt us..."
Just then, the black mist behind Yunqin churned violently, as if some terrifying being was about to descend.
A majestic figure slowly emerged, clad in a black divine robe embroidered with dark gold dragon patterns, his ink-black hair tied neatly with a blood-red ribbon, radiating a suffocating pressure that made it hard to breathe. It was none other than the appearance of "Rex Lapis"!
He strode slowly to Yunqin's side, raising his hand to gently pat her shoulder.
The gesture seemed gentle, yet it carried an undeniable tone of command.
Yunqin's entire body stiffened. She slowly turned her head, a flicker of lingering lucidity flashing in her crimson eyes.
It was her instinct fighting against the suppression of the Abyssal Power, her voice a hoarse rasp, barely audible: "Rex Lapis..."
"Zhongli," however, did not spare her a glance. He simply stepped forward, positioning himself in front of Yunqin, his crimson eyes staring calmly and directly at Lumine and Lydia.
His gaze held no warmth, as if he were looking at two lifeless objects. A terrifying pressure descended like Mount Tai, making the very air in the room turn impossibly heavy.
Yunxuan, already severely wounded, coughed up a large mouthful of blood as the fake Rex Lapis's aura struck her. Her body slumped softly in Lumine's arms, her breath growing even weaker.
Yet she still summoned her last shred of strength, struggling to lift her eyelids to glare at the figure in the black divine robe. Her eyes were filled with defiance and fury, as if accusing him of desecrating Rex Lapis's majesty.
Lydia and Lumine's expressions also changed drastically. Their legs trembled uncontrollably, and a powerful suffocating sensation rushed over them. It was as if a thousand-jin weight pressed down on their shoulders, nearly forcing them to their knees.
"We... can't... kneel!" Lumine gritted her teeth, her grip tightening on the Prototype Rancour until the veins on her arms bulged from the effort.
Lydia also forced her back straight, the Festering Desire trembling slightly in her hand as Anemo energy surged wildly around her, struggling to resist the despair-inducing pressure.
Just as the two were about to collapse, a warm yet piercing golden barrier suddenly materialized out of thin air, firmly blocking the way before them!
The barrier flowed with a soft, jade-like glow, completely sealing off the terrifying pressure.
A heavy and resolute power spread forth, instantly relieving the suffocating sensation for the three and allowing them to catch their breath.
"All-Encompassing!"
A majestic and deep voice echoed from the depths of the black mist, its words resonating so powerfully that the surrounding mist churned violently, as if space itself were trembling.
Then, a figure stepped out slowly.
Clad in a pure white divine robe, surrounded by a pure and heavy Geo element aura, it was the true Rex Lapis!
His steps were calm and steady, each one causing the ground to tremble slightly, exuding a unique divine majesty.
He came to a halt before the three, his gaze first falling upon Yunxuan, who lay severely wounded in Lumine's arms yet still glared defiantly at the imposter. A flicker of imperceptible emotion and regret crossed his eyes.
Then he slowly turned his head to look at the impostor in the black divine robe, as well as Yunqin, who was held firmly behind him by Abyssal Power.
In an instant, the air pressure around Zhongli plummeted, and a titanic fury erupted like a long-dormant volcano.
His pure white divine robe billowed in a windless void, snapping sharply.
Geo energy condensed into visible golden particles of light around him, and even the rocks beneath his feet trembled slightly, as if resonating with the God's wrath.
"Abyssal filth! You dare lay your hands on the people of Liyue, impersonate my likeness, and defile the dignity of a God. You have chosen the path to your death!"
"You... you're the fake!" The black-robed Rex Lapis's expression finally changed.
"Absurd," Zhongli snorted coldly.
A chilling light flashed in his golden eyes, devoid of all warmth. With a mere raise of his hand, he condensed a spear of pure gold.
The stone spear surged with world-shattering power, its tip gleaming with a bone-chilling sharpness that distorted the very air around it.
"How dare you, petty curs, defile my majesty? Die!"